Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-08-24

/ even while I listened to that mysterious
noise. NV belief was that two of the
boards in the floor, or in the wall, were
| being slowly removed in order to admit
some one into the room l was ready Ia
| fire rs soon "a | heard stealthy step by
! my bedside, as | did not doubt that my
lie would be attempted. The room was
quite dark; but if my first shot missed,
the flash from the pistol would enable me
to take good aim with my second Sud
denly the nature of the sound altered,
and at last l understood how il was pro-
duced, and knew that the window was
being slowly opened by some one outside.
No ladder was high enough to reach rom
a boat. and the thnrouShfare which even
at night was constantly made of the
water, rendered access by this means i'm
possible concluded that in my absence
some one had entered my room by the
door, and at the sound of my approach
had opened the window and gone outside,
closing it Immediately afterward But
what vampire was this, that for more
than an hour had clung TO sill barely six
inches wide, or had poised himself at SO
fearful height upon this narrow ledge!
All these thoughts. and many more,
passed through my mind during the few
seconds that | lay conscious that must
infiict or suffer instant death. Not to
speak Of the robbery, which l did not
doubt was the cause Of this mans pres
ence escape was impossible for him except
at the expense of my life, and believed
he would not hesitate TO take it. Only a
few nights before, had l not seen my
friend with less cause struck down by an
assassin,
1T was very dark. but at that moment,
through a riff in the dense clouds, the
moon shed food of light, and for an in
slant and no longer. between myself and
the sky, silhoucttelike. saw distinctly
the form of a man. He held n poniard in
his hand and was preparing to step into
the room. 1t may have been due 10
imagination, but l believed that ] also
saw the same diabolical face which had
observed in the man who had attacked
my friend. Without further refiec-
tlon, and almost instinctively, l
nred. Following the report of the
shot came c"nvulsive sob, and from the
breath Of cool air thHt suddenly passed
over my face. knew that nothing inter-
vcned now between me and the night
breeze that was blowing through the
open window. l sprang from bed, and,
cropping my way, found, as l expected,
that the intruder had disappeared. Put
ting my hand out of the window, l could
feel that there was neither rope nor ladder
there. | then closed the window and
secured il. When had struck light /
saw on the sleeve Of my night shirt a
damp, red stain, and knew that when !
had put my hand outside there was blood
upon the sill; but whether it had been
spit by my shot or otherwise, of course l
could not tell. Sleep was out of the ques-
tion now. 50 | dressed and remained where
WIS till il was time fer me to go in the
morning. | said nothing of what had oc-
CURED, and heard nothing Of it; nor from
that day till this has any intelligence con
nected with the event ever reached me
If the man had a poniard in his death
grasp, end. as is likely, was weighted with
other heavy weapons, on striking the
water he would sink like lead l could
not, however. forget my terrible expert
ence. j became nervous and subject to
odd fancies. and took TO reading books
that treated of the history, virtues and
ban,Sul effects Of gems.
''S-,on aftcrward | resolved to retire
from business BY far the most important
of my purchases i'll the east had been a
very valuable diamond Of great weight
1t is not easy t0 find purchasers for stones
of this size, as there are naturally few
who have the means and arc willing 10
part with The equivalent in money. This
stone is st.ll unsold, and lies in the care
Of my bankers in London. When I have
disposed Of it, that will be my last tran
saction Of this nature. 1t is famous
adl has al authentic history Of
many hundred years. 1t is known TO have
the loss oi many life. 1 have no
doubt that on account Of this jewel was
actually followed from India, and though
only SAW him in the dark, both from his
size and features believe the plupderer
10 have been n native or half caStA A.
.iso OF the belief that ere can get rid OF
This Diamond. there is still misfortune in
store for me-
had nov TO leave in order To change
carriages, and was not sorry to bid my
fellow traveller farewell. As he had made
me feel ecrie.
About year later / was in Paris, and
one morning read in a newspaper an ac-
count Of tic sale of the famous jewels of
n Russian princess. Several paragraphs
farther on, read that the body of a mur-
icrcd man. who was unknown. had been
found on one Of the principal boulevarls.
4 short description followed. which
at once suggested to me my fellow
of a year before. on the
Orleans railway. ] hastened To the morGue
and found my fears realized; for there lay
the diamond merchant. who had been IA
tally stabbed between the shoulders. From
the information that / was able to give,
it was concluded that he would he known
to the lar-e jewel dealers, and as the re-
suit Of inquiries in short time the body
was claimed by friends. l afterward
learned that he had been the victim of a
deeply laid robbery, as very valuable
diamond, which il was discovered he had
brought TO Paris in order To dispose of,
WIS missing, but his purse, which con
tanned n considerable sum of money, and
his other valuables had been left un-
touched.-Crawford Scott in Belgravia.
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